The Reality of Playing Poker For a Living

08 Jul 2025

Beginner

This material is for beginner players

Let me ask you something. How many times have you looked at someone playing poker for a living and thought, damn, that must be the life? I mean, sitting around in hoodies, playing cards, and raking in piles of cash while everyone else is out there stuck in a 9-5 job.

Sounds like a dream, right? But here’s the thing nobody tells you: professional poker isn’t some glamorous shortcut to riches. We’re about to take a deep dive into the real world of professional poker — how much money pros actually make, the insane pressure, the respect they don’t get, and the reality of going broke even when you’re playing the best poker of your life.

There’s a quote that floats around in the poker world, and it perfectly sums up what it’s like: It’s a hard way to make an easy living. And once you start peeling back the layers of the poker grind, that line hits harder and harder.

The question most aspiring pros ask is: How much do professional players actually make? Like, is it even possible to live off a poker salary? And the answer, like everything else in poker is: it depends. The truth is, about 1% of those that become professional poker players actually become successful. Even then, some still go through the period where they are broke or living on meager means.

One thing you should understand is that making a living by playing poker means accepting that this type of activity is a job at which you have to perform exceptionally well to earn your wage.

To actually make a living playing poker, you need to treat poker like a job. A high-pressure, ultra-competitive, full-time job where you are the product. It requires your full attention, your time, your energy, and yes, your money. Only then are you even on the path to becoming a real professional.

Another issue that pro players have to deal with is the fact that they generally don’t get much respect for the profession from the general public. Most parents are horrified when their child tells them they’re quitting their job to become a professional poker player.

The truth, however, is that whatever you might think about the morality of taking money from weaker players at the poker table, no one can question the amount of hard work and intelligence it takes to become an elite poker player.

Back in the early days, a fortune could be made with very little poker experience and knowledge. Today, it takes a ridiculous amount of natural ability, study, and constant improvement just to stay afloat. For those who do have what it takes, the reward is a job with practically unlimited freedom. Top professional poker players can easily make millions per year playing poker.

Only a handful of players are capable of pulling off results like these, though. The players at this level — they are monsters. They know math better than anyone. They can read a situation like they’ve got psychic powers. They are feared, respected, and ruthless. But even those guys, even them, go through massive swings. Variance does not care who you are.

One of the hardest truths about going pro in poker is that talent alone isn’t enough. Every year, thousands of players try to make a living at the tables — and most of them fail, not because they aren’t smart or skilled, but because they lack a plan:

• They don’t study efficiently.
• They waste time focusing on the wrong parts of their game.
• They don’t understand how to manage their bankroll when variance hits hard, or how to stay mentally sharp during long downswings.

Success in poker requires a systematic approach, and that’s where most players fall short.

At Getcoach, we don’t just teach you how to play hands — we teach you how to build a poker career. You’ll learn how to track your results properly, analyze your leaks, structure your study hours for maximum improvement, and adjust your strategies as games evolve. We focus on making you a complete player — strong in technical knowledge, mental game, game selection, and long-term discipline. No generic videos, no false promises — just real poker coaching, real progress, and a clear roadmap to becoming the best player you can be.

And the money? Well, it’s a bit tricky to calculate. You’ve got buy-ins, stakes, swaps with other players, side bets, private deals.

Bryn Kenney famously became the highest-earning poker player in history after having a phenomenal 2019. He scored multiple 7-figure wins and won a whopping $30 million in a single year. He now tops the chart with $75 million plus in live tournaments.

But for every Bryn Kenney, there are thousands who never make it. Because this path is brutal. In poker, you only make money when your opponents make mistakes. But with all the coaching, solvers, and study tools out there now, fewer players are making big mistakes.

The Hidden Cost: Devaluing Money

Another rarely discussed yet very serious downside to becoming a professional poker player is that it causes you to greatly devalue money.

If you compare a lawyer and a poker player who both make $500 an hour, the poker player will never have anywhere near as much value of the money as the lawyer does. The reason is simple: the lawyer makes $500 for every hour he or she works. So when the lawyer sees something that costs $1,000, they know they have to do two hours of work to earn enough to pay for it.

For a professional poker player to average $500 per hour, they have to be playing fairly high-stakes games in which you are winning and losing sums between $10,000 and $100,000 on an hourly basis. When money comes and goes through your hands that quickly for longer periods of time, it basically becomes impossible to be frugal with your money.

If you are going to play poker for a living, you need to be constantly evaluating what types of games will provide the highest hourly win rate for your unique set of abilities and experience.

One serious mistake that many professional players make is that they find a game they can win at and then only play that type of game month after month, year after year. The poker landscape changes constantly, and games that used to be easy money are practically unbeatable for significant amounts of money these days.

Every person who plays poker has a limit — the level at which no matter how much work they put in, it will be the highest level they are capable of beating. Most players never reach their limit because few players work as hard as they can to improve for longer periods of time.

Every couple of years, there is a massive turnover in the regulars playing at a particular level of stakes. Most of the regulars in the 5-10 games running two years ago are now playing 2-4 or lower, or have completely left the game. There are some, though, who have the ability and work ethic to continue winning at the same stakes they have been beating as the games got tougher.

And let’s not forget the classic mistake — moving up in stakes too soon. You run good for a few sessions, win a couple of buy-ins, and suddenly think you’re ready for nosebleeds. Spoiler alert: you’re not.

The Real Danger: Getting Cheated

And that’s just the strategic part. Let’s talk about the real danger: getting cheated. If you play long enough, it’s going to happen. Someone will collude against you, scam you, or outright rob you. It happens less than it used to, especially online, but it still exists. It’s a reality you’ll need to come to terms with.

The most common form is collusion, and it’s usually very hard to spot. Fortunately, it’s also the least damaging and not something most players need to lose sleep over. There are other ways players can get cheated. But in the vast majority of games today, cheating just isn’t happening.

So why do people still choose to go pro? Why go through all of this? Because when you love the game, when you have the skill and the heart for it, none of the downsides matter. You accept the variance, you handle the swings, and you embrace the grind. Because deep down, there’s still that freedom, that rush, that dream. But just remember: if you choose this path — it’s a hard way to make an easy living.

If you’re serious about turning poker into a real profession, don’t leave it to chance. The difference between players who survive and those who thrive at the tables is dedicated training, expert guidance, and constant refinement of their game. That’s exactly what we provide at Getcoach.

At Getcoach, you get access to proven strategies used by today’s top players, not outdated advice from a decade ago. We combine the latest tools — including solvers, hand analysis software, and data-driven decision models — with coaching from real professionals who have beaten the toughest online and live games.

• Hundreds of students have already transformed their game with Getcoach — from beginners learning the fundamentals to advanced grinders preparing for high-stakes action.
• Structured learning paths — we help you build your skills step-by-step, whether it’s mastering preflop ranges, postflop play, GTO concepts, or mental game resilience.
• Personalized feedback and hand reviews — because watching videos isn’t enough. We help you apply concepts correctly at the table.
• Game selection and bankroll management insights — so you avoid the trap of playing the wrong games or moving up stakes too soon.

We’re not here to sell you a dream — we’re here to give you the knowledge, skills, and mindset to build a real and sustainable poker career. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start winning, join us at Getcoach today. This is where serious players come to become professionals. Welcome!